The stabbing death of a New York City black man is being called an “an assault” on the city’s diversity and tolerance by city officials.

“The reason he picked New York is because it’s the media capital of the world and he wanted to make a statement.”

Assistant Chief William Aubrey said that a 66-year-old black man, Timothy Caughman, was targeted by 28-year-old James Harris Jackson, who took a bus from Baltimore to New York City with the sole purpose of finding a black man to kill, according to Fox News.

Left: U.S.veteran/white supremacist James Harris Jackson who came to NYC to murder black men. Right: Tim Caughman, murdered for being black pic.twitter.com/VHrUcDicyq

Crime Online previously reported that Caughman was pronounced dead on Monday night after he had been stabbed at around 11:30 p.m. in Hell’s Kitchen. Jackson was caught on camera during the assault but later turned himself in to authorities.

Aubrey reportedly said that Caughman was out on the streets looking through trashcans for bottles. When Jackson approached him, he stabbed Caughman in the chest with a sword he was concealing under a long overcoat.

Fox News’ report said that Jackson washed the blood from his hands after the assault at a restaurant that was close by.

Jackson was arrested on suspicion of murder, and while in custody, told police that he hated black men for at least 10 years. He said that he had been staying at a hotel in New York City since March 17.

Authorities said that Jackson may have been planning other attacks, but decided to turn himself in instead after seeing himself on news outlets and surveillance camera. As Crime Online reported, Jackson came into the precinct with two knives when turning himself in.

Marcus Dagan, the informal manager of an apartment complex that Jackson used to live in, reportedly took him to court over months of unpaid rent.

“He’s just one of those people that you wish you never met.”

Jackson was reportedly in the Army from March 2009 to August 2012, working as an intelligence analyst. He was deployed in Afghanistan from December 2010 to November 2011, where he earned several medals and attained the rank of “specialist.”

Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a statement that though the attack was atrocious, it won’t dim the spirit of the city.

“We are a safe city because we are inclusive. We are a nation of unrivaled strength because we are diverse. No act of violence can undermine who we are.”